DJ Shadow, Cut Chemist Give Silver Spring a History Lesson (Show Review)
Written by Michael Hogan
It’s easy to become jaded as a music journalist. You’ve been to so many shows and seen so many artists that they all blend together after awhile. You get into it because you love it, because every single show is something special; while music may still be a wonderful thing, most shows have just become a little less special. I know it’s a rather bleak way to look at things, and some of you are surely cursing at me through your keyboards – something about how I’m an ungrateful little shit and I’m taking it all for granted – and you’re probably right. But if I’ve gained one skill in life it’s the ability to recognize when a show is momentousness; a once in a life time experience that has some sort of echoing effect in the history of music, regardless of the scale.
And while I generally take any opportunity to bitch about my extremely fortunate situation in this world, this is one of those rare moments where I can’t help but acknowledge how grateful I actually am. It isn’t every day that two of the most legendary turntablists come through town touting one of the most comprehensive and quality record collections of all time.
Last week, DJ Shadow and Cut Chemist visited the Fillmore in Silver Spring, MD with Afrika Bambaataa’s museum-worthy music collection – that’s over 40,000 records, folks – and laid out the history of hip hop, spinning sets full of music that laid the groundwork for an entire cultural movement. It’s hard to not acknowledge how special this event really was; it was an exquisitely composed sonic lesson, covering the early days of hip-hop and the sounds and samples that inspired the movement from its inception.
As if the cultural significance of the occasion wasn’t enough, DJ Shadow and Cut Chemist – two artists that went on to further define the sounds of hip-hop through the ’90s and up to the present day – curated the entire thing, using six turntables and the original vinyl records. Not only did they pay homage to the early days of hip hop, but it was a rare display of true talent in a scene that grows staler by the day.
I could go on about the song selection, the history behind each track, the significance of the records themselves, or even the illustrious careers of DJ Shadow and Cut Chemist. But if you have even an inkling of how important this show was you know all of that, and the details are immaterial in light of the big picture. I don’t even have to tell you it was just as remarkable as you’d expect it to be – but I will anyway. It was a truly historic moment and a truly special show, one that will be incredibly hard to top.